It's Hard to Say No to a Pretty Face

Mitsubishi introduced is entry-level Lancer to an eager Canadian consumer last year, seeing reasonable growth in a market that was all but flat across the board for the majority of the Japanese brand's competitors.

Like the 2003 model, the 2004 Lancer is wonderfully agile and well appointed with above average build quality. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

The 2003 car was wonderfully agile and well appointed with above average build quality, just the kind high value quotient that sells well in a populace that is overtaxed and underpaid on the whole. The only complaint I ever heard, and then rarely, was regarding its conservative luxury car grille. Something a little sportier would be more apropos for Lancer's student body demographic.

The 120-hp 16-valve, SOHC 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine is not tire shredding but the Lancer keeps up with traffic just fine. (Photo: Mitsubishi)

As you can see by the photos Mitsubishi was listening, having styled its 2004 model in similar fashion to the ultra-hot World Rally Championship winning EVO - itself based on Lancer architecture. The updated car looks terrific, racier than the previous model while more in tune with the brand's new bisected grille family face.

Under the hood remains Mitsubishi's 120-hp 16-valve, SOHC 2.0-L 4-cylinder with 130 lb-ft of torque. Lancer's acceleration is not tire shredding but keeps up with traffic just fine. Actually in 5-speed manual guise, the base transmission, it feels peppier than the numbers suggest. The engine revs freely and transmission shifts nicely; it's one of the easiest compacts to drive quickly, or for that matter to putter around town in.